If Trump isn’t among the most important interview topics for gubernatorial candidates, what is?

The Denver Post’s Mark Matthews obviously got it right on Sunday when he reported that the fallout from the presidential race will affect Democrats and Republicans who want to be Colorado’s next governor.

How [Republican] party members view the start to [Trump’s] presidency could have an impact on which candidates they support. Stapleton, for example, backed distant relative Jeb Bush in the GOP primary, although he later voted for Trump.

Some Republican candidates, like Stapleton, probably don’t want to be asked 1) about their presidential vote, or 2) what they think of Trump’s actions/behavior at any given moment on Twitter and elsewhere. (See Stapleton dodge the topic here last year.)

But that’s why reporters should continue asking both questions. They’re of ongoing extreme relevance and an inescapable part of the story line leading up to next year’s election.

As for other possible GOP gubernatorial candidates, in addition to Stapleton, Matthews mentioned state Sens. Tim Neville and Ray Scott, who are both on record as supporting Trump, as well as Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, who appeared to signal her backing of the president-elect by cheering “Go Trump!” on election night, and George Brauchler, whose presidential vote is apparently still unknown.

9News‘ anchor Kyle Clark missed a chance to ask Brauchler about Trump during a Next with Kyle Clarkinterview last week, but undoubtedly the topic of Trump will come up repeatedly as Republicans and Democrats dither about whether to officially launch gubernatorial campaigns.

I mean, if Trump isn’t among the most important topics in an interview with almost any candidate, what is?

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I'm less concerned about their support or nonsupport of Trump than their ideas for adapting to the potential radical changes to the Colorado budget if the Congress and Trump manage to pass various acts that are part of the range of Republican agendas. If Medicare and Medicaid become block grants, what do we do? If the ACA is functionally gutted, how should the state react? If Congress passes legislation offering to turn over control of public lands to the state, does there need to be a change in developing regulations?